CHAPTER XXVI. A CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 217, 27 August 1887, Page 5

CHAPTER XXVI. A CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

It »was indeed true that Mrs Egbert i Gordon wns again a comparatively wealthy vwoman, and had been made so through the .death of her husband. vWheu Mr Gordon had been at the height val] \)i§ prosperity he had taken life insurance policies for upward of fifty thousand dollars, and, as ho had fortunately compkfied his payments upon them just before his overtook him, there was no tvossble ,n]?out the payment of the different gums »!i\i<?h served to place his wife again in afou«,«i circumstances. Mrs (iQX{\pn knew that her husband had been ijjs-wxl. but she had not known to what cxtft,^,, an 1 when infoimed of the fact that si, tcutunc awaited her disposal, the knowledge ftCt.n.*cd to inspire hor with new life. Her health, x-hieh had been so delicate since their inicfrttune, began to improve immediately. The colour returned to her face, the old aniiuctiion and energy to her manner, and elastkV^y to her step. She no longer sj[iu,t herself away in her room to brood and v.oep. She began to mingle with the w0r1.4 again, and though she "would not go int^ society during her peason of mourning, she r ode a great deal, resuming her old place in fecr church, and no longer denied herself to friends and visitors, who now poured in upon her with offers of sympathy and condolet.tt- 1 . The little house which had been tlje scene of her bitter humiliation, and wljure her husband had died, was not consid&rod a fitting abode for herself and Ruby in their altered circumstances ; consequently eveiything wae stripped fiom it and sold at auction, while a handsome suite of rooms was taken in a fashionable and pleasant street, wheie they "needn't die of gloom and loneliness/ as Mrs Gordon put it, and thither she and Ruby removed as soon as practicable, Ruby felt that she would ha\e been happier to lcmaiu in the quiet little home, where, for a short time, she had really enjoyed being useful, and trying to develop her powers of self - reliance, and where she ax.d her beloved brother had seemed to come into closer sympathy than ever before. But her resolute sibter — resolute now that all-powerful gold was at her command — swept everything before her, and. insisting upon the change, Ruby yielded her own wishes in the matter. She would not, however, consent to give up her position as a teacher, although Mrs Gordon used every argument to persuade her to do so, still feeling that such menial toil "was a disgrace to the family name." But she had to yield to Ruby's obstinacy, as ehs termed it, though she Vias for a time highly indignant over it. So the young teacher went on the even tenor of her way, and, with the spirit of indepeidence which she had grown to 'enjoy ?o much, resolutely refused to allow her sister to do anything fur her, save bear the expense of her living. She would have been glad not to have incurred even this obligation, but her limited income would not admit of her pacing the high price demanded for board and their expensive lodgings, and she was forced to accept that much ; for Estelle would not be separated from her, and she herself would have felt very desolate to go elsewhere. But Mts Goidon had a .secret motive in keeping her beautiful young sister with her. Edmund Carpenter had suddenly resumed his intimacy with them. For a time, after Ruby's refusal of his suit, he had ceased his visits, though he had by no means relinquished the hope that he should eventually win her. He knew that Mrs Gordon strongly favoured his union with Ruby, but that her husband would never allow any undue influence to be brought to bear upon her regarding the matter. But that powerful ally had been removed from his path, and he determined to make a bolder effort than ever ; and, as soon as propriety »vould allow him to do so, the wily lover sought an interview with the widow, made a confidante of her, and begged her to lend her aid in accomplishing his designs. Mrs Gordon at once resolved that Ruby should marry Edmund Carpenter and his million, if there was any power strong enough to induce her to do so. Consequently, Mr Carpenter became a constant visitor in their handsome parlour, where 'he was always received with great cordiality by Mis Gordon, and politely by Ruby. Walter also came occasionally, although his visits were looked upon with growing disfavour by Mrs Gordon, who could not fail to perceive toward what they were tending, and yet not suspecting how far matters had already progressed between the young couple. The lovers had resolved not to make any announcement of their engagement at present, on account of Ruby's recent bereavement. Ruby had not even told her sister. She shrank Jrom the confession, feeling that she might not receive much sympathy from her. She was quite sure of it when, after a time, she began to notice the coldness in her manner toward Walter whenever he dropped in to spend an evening with her. His visits were not nearly as frequent as Edmund Carpenter's, for three evenings of the week were occupied with his teaching, ; three more with extra work and study, so that it was rare for him to see Ruby more than once a week, unless occasionally, as he tried to do, he could steal a few minutes to walk with her as she returned from school ; and these were golden moments, indeed, to the lovers. Thus the winter passed, and spring came around again ; warm and sultry days began to warn city people that it was almost time to flit into the country, to the sea-shore and mountains, and Ruby felt the tax which her unaccustomed labour and confinement had imposed upon her strength. One afternoon, late in April, she returned from school tired, almost prostrated with her long walk in the heat and dust, and with a feeling of downright homesickness in her heart. She found their rooms empty, but a note was lying on the table, addressed to her, in her sister's handwriting. It stated that Mrs Gordon had gone out of town to make some inquiries about accommodations for the summer months ; and would not return until late. Ruby felt very lonely. It had been a hard day in school, she had been suffering from a dull headache all the afternoon, and now to come home and find the place deserted, and no one to speak a cheerful

<vord to hor, made her doubly sad and desolate. She dropped her book« and hat upon the table; and, throwing hersf&f upon the sofa, let wilful tears have their way. She might have lain their •£we.nty l jmnu1 l es when there came a knock wpKro ttihe door.. Thinking it might be a servant with the mail, sho turned her tear-*tain.ed face to, the wall, and murmured a low" Co,m.e:in." j The door opened, someone entered and, closed it again, and then stood irresolute, ; as if conscious of having been guilty of an intrusion. Ruby looked up suddenly to find Edmund Carpenter standing there, hat in hand, and regarding her with an anxious lotfk of inquiry. .She sprang to hor feet, colouring widly .wi&h confusion, at his having fouud her there, and faltered out a greeting. Mrs Gordon home?' he asked, adj vancing, and holding out his hand to lluby, " No ; Estelle went out early in the afternoon, and had not returned," she replied, ' ' All * Are you expecting her soon ?" "I do not know. I presume she wil! not be loivg now. Will you sit down?" Ruby asked., as a matter of form, but hoping from the bol£om of her heart that he would refuse and go away. But he had uo such intention. He had known before he came that he {should not find Mrs Gordon At home. It had been a little plot arranged between them, and he : had come there to nee Ruby alone, and with a special purpose in view. ' He laid his hat upon the table, and, drawing a chair near her, sat down while she resumed her »cat upon the sofa. At first he pretended not to notice the evidences of her grief, but exerted himself to entertain her. He knew well how to do this, for he was a thorough man of the world, and had plenty of society gossip at his tongue's end. | But Ruby was not in a social frame of mind, and though she tried hard to be polite, it was evident that she would have much preferred to be left to herself. " I do not believe you are feeling well today, Miss Ruby,"' Mr Carpenter remarked, when, after a' lull in the conversation, she sighed and glanced wearily at the clock upon the mantel. " I have been wot king haul in school today, and the heat has given me a headache," she answered, and then coloured with vexation ab herself for having admitted so much to him. •'This teaching is too much for you. I knew it would be, Ruby," he remaiked, with tender reproach, and searching her face earnestly. " Oh, no, I think not. I am not often troubled in this way," she leplied, trying to speak cheeriully. "It is,"he persisted. " You are growing thin and pale. Such drudgery is not lit for such as you." "I do not consider it drudgery, Mr Carpentei,' 1 Ruby answered, quietly, and a trifle coldly, for she did not like his tone. I " I have a very pleasant position and I enjoy my work ordinarily." j " But you are not happy ; you had been I weeping before I came in, and it distresses me to see you miserable. If you would only let me euro for you, Ruby, and save you from all this unpleasantness. Come to me, darling, and let me shield you from all care and toil in the future. It makes me wild to see you going back and forth, like a common working-girl, to earn your pittance. Oh, Ruby, (five yourself to me, and you shall never know a sorrow ; I nothing disagreeable shall ever touch you. 1 will surround you with everything that heart can wish, and be your loving slave besides. " Edmund Carpenter was terribly in earnest. His face flushed, his voice shook with the strength of his purpose, and Ruby could see that he was actually trembling with the in tenseness of his desire to win her. " Why will you persist in saying pucli things to me, Mr Carpenter ?" she said, in a tone of distress. " Because I love you —l idolise you !" he answered, passionately. "I never believed myself much inclined to sentiment — I used to laugh at it in others ; but I have come to realise that I have a great deal of it. I cannot live without you, Ruby ; my life is wretched — a perfect blank " Ruby started again to her feet, her face crimson. " You niuU not talk like this to me ; I cannot listen," she cried, feeling that she was almost a traitor to Walter, in allowing Edmund to utter a single word of love to her. "I told you long ago," she continued, " that I did not love you, that I could never marry you " " You v/jus/," he interrupted, putting her gently in her seat, thouerh the veins stood out full and hard upon his forehead. " I j tell you I cannot — i will not live without you, Ruby Gordon. You have -won me by the witchery of your charms ; you have made me your abject slave, and — you oioe me yourself in return, my beautiful enchantress—my little golden-haired queen !" he concluded, with a fierce tenderness that startled the young girl. "I think you are forgetting yourself, Mr Carpenter, as well as what is due to me," she replied, growing pale now, and speaking with some haughtiness. "I am very sorry — no one can regret more than I do that you should have allowed yourself to entertain and encourage such sentiments towards me, when you must have known there was no hope of any return. What I told you early in the winter I can only repeat now — I do not love you, and I can never be your wife. I never can give you, any other answer, so pray do not repeat this painful interview over again." Edmund Carpenter had also grown very pale while she was speaking, for there \vas no mistaking the unalterable decision which both her words and manner conveyed, and there had come an expression upon his face that might have startled her had she interpreted it rightly. " Do you ever expect to marry anybody, Miss Gordon?" he asked, speaking in a repressed tone. She glanced at him, surprised at the question. " 1 — presume so ; most girls marry sooner or later," she said, speaking in a general way, yet colouring consciously, notwithstanding. "Well, then, let mo tell you one thing. It will be a dangerous thing for any other man to win you," he said, throughhistightly shut teeth. Ruby's slight form became suddenly very erect. A red spot of anger burned upon heiter cheek. " Do you presume to threaten me simply because I do not choose to marry you ?" she demanded, in a haughty tone. "No, not you, my beautiful darling, but the man who wins you. Let him beware of my deadly hatred ; for, as sure as we both live, I shall have my revenge upon him '." Ruby rose again. She seemed to, grow tall in her wrath and scorn. Her lips curled, her delicate nostrils quivered, her beautiful eyes blazed. "I think we will not prolong this interview, Mr Carpenter," she said, in a tone that made him tingle with shame and anger. "It cannot be pleasant for either of us. I regret that my sister is not here to entertain you. Good evening, sir !" She did not wait for a reply, but swept by him, her very robes seemiug to flutter with

the indignation and contempt which burned within her, and" passed from the room into her own chamber, shutting and locking the door after hex*. Edmund Carpenter sat Avhere she had left him for a few minutes longer, looking the picture of baffled rage ; then lie also arose and left the room.